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RSPCA calls for Grand National changes
Image - Richard Humphrey
Changes recommended to improve safety

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has called for changes to the Grand National to improve safety after the deaths of two horses, According to Pete and Synchronised, at this year's event. The call comes after a review by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) concluded that “factors one could neither have foreseen nor prevented were prevalent in the events that led to the two horses sustaining their injuries."


After taking advice from the equine inspector's team who were present at the jumps and horseracing consultant David Muir, the RSPCA has called for:
  • A reduction in the number of starters to include only experienced jockeys and horses
  • The removal of Becher's Brook
  • A re-design of the cores of fences
  • Levelling of drop landings
  • Changes to the start
  • The automatic withdrawal of horses which bolt and unseat their jockeys
  • An urgent review of communications and positioning of horse catchers
Commenting, RSPCA Chief Executive Gavin Grant said “We need change, a smaller and better qualified field, an end to killer fences like Becher’s Brook, which we believe was instrumental in the deaths of both Synchronised and According To Pete. We hope the BHA and Aintree will work with the RSPCA to make the Grand National a true test of jockeys’ skills but not at the cost of horses’ lives.”

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

Click here for more...
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Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.